Strolled Trafford – Gunners Heading Back Wembley Way
Mar 9th, 2015 by 'holic
Well, as nights go that was one of the more memorable ones. Tonight we are celebrating reaching the FA Cup semi-finals after the Arsenal once again produced a disciplined display to claim their first victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford since 2006.
I’m aware that half the planet, and therefore the vast majority of you, will probably have seen at least the key moments of the match live, so I will try and avoid the conventional and discuss instead the key points.
Where better to begin than with the starting line-up. If you read my preview you will know I would agreed wholeheartedly with ten of the eleven starters. Arsene gave us something of a surprise with the selection of Danny Welbeck as the focal point of the attack rather than Olivier Giroud. That caused much wailing and gnashing of teeth on Twitter, but proved to be a match-winning masterstroke.
Giroud gives us strength, and hold-up options that weren’t required tonight. This was all about having Welbeck’s pace and willingness to look for the gaps behind defenders, and looking to thread balls through any gaps that appeared. Understanding that United’s defenders kept a close eye on him, which meant there was space for others to exploit, notably Alexis Sanchez as early as the third minute.
United’s defence was therefore concentrating on other options as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain danced through their massed ranks midway through the half to set up Nacho Monreal for a wonderful near post finish that took De Gea, among others, by surprise. One nil to the Arsenal. To this point we had defended superbly, which made the one major mistake we made all night just three minutes later so frustrating.
Di Maria had a mixed night, but his excellent cross picked out Rooney in the centre of the six yard line, and astonishingly unmarked. On such a night apportioning blame is a churlish exercise for a blogger, but it is something to be addressed at Shenley on Wednesday.
The other talking point of the opening half was a penalty appeal for a tug on Danny Welbeck. Now we have seen them given, and we have seen them not given. Michael Oliver decided it wasn’t. On the basis of his first-half performance it was not a surprise. He booked Hector Bellerin in only the fourth minute for his first foul, and let much go, particularly from Fellaini who tested Francis Coquelin’s broken nose at around the same time and went on to commit several fouls.
My dislike of the current crop of PGMOL officials is well known I think, so I have to hold my hands up and say I thought Oliver’s second-half performance was a blueprint for how matches should be handled. Not once, but twice, he punished obvious dives by Di Maria and Januzaj with a yellow card. Supporters of every club have been crying out for that, and television replays showed that both decisions were spot on. Di Maria objected a little too physically and by the letter of the law earned his second yellow.
By the time Di Maria had seen red though we had secured our passage when Danny feasted on Valencia’s woeful backpass to score in front of the magnificent traveling Gooners, and celebrate a winner how it should be celebrated, bollocks if it is against your old club. Louis van Gaal’s “Welbeck is not the standard required at Manchester United” quote probably warranted such glee.
Eleven against ten we held out comfortably, and the BBC viewers voted for Francis Coquelin as man of the match. Of the three options they offered I thought it a reasonable call, but how on earth was Monreal not in the vote? A scorer at one end, he defended superbly, which is why this amateur wanted him selected ahead of Kieran Gibbs.
The real match winner tonight though was the man we are not allowed to credit, it seems. Arsene doesn’t always get it right, particularly in the big away games in recent years, but just as he did in 2003 he came to Old Trafford, ‘rested’ his main goal threat, got his tactics absolutely right, and saw his team keep their heads while United’s lost theirs.
I would also like to show my appreciation to David De Gea. But for two unbelievable saves from Cazorla and Sanchez United’s embarrassment would have been greater, and I would not be celebrating the third successive ‘holic pound to come in.
Reading or Bradford City it is then. Let’s worry about one of them another day.
Enjoy basking in this one, ‘holics.
324 Responses to “Strolled Trafford – Gunners Heading Back Wembley Way”
Hello?
Öskar
Ave itttt
Number Onederdog again!
Öskar
Fucking love it!!!!!!!!
Why oh Why did I not follow up on another ‘holic pound?
You’re right, H2H, I should enjoy it. And I did, honest! 😉
Strangest sight on the night was seeing Fellaini and Smalling up front for Manure and Falcao on the bench. Another van Gaal masterstroke? I think not.
Öskar
Excellent match report.
Lots of memorable performances from us, but that save by De Gea was probably the moment with most quality. A great move by us but just what save to not only reach the ball but somehow claw it… Santi couldn’t believe it.
Hopefully one of the spanish giants would be in for him next season. Too good to waste his career there.
“A tug on Welbeck”
*puerile snigger*
Nice one H.
I’m still on the ceiling. 😎
Cheers ‘holic.
And well in for the pound sir.
Spot on report, Holic.
Good luck sleeping tonight, everyone.
COYG
You know it makes sense Oskar. 😉
How ManU’s team must be feeling .. : http://i.imgur.com/LDG1V1j.jpg
😀
I see spam.
What did she wear ……..?
Just Buzzing, what a night to be a gooner !
Heh, 🙂
Nice.y judged report Guv. I think the key points were all brought out well. Arsene picked the right team , although Ches is looking a bit of a liability at present, Danny was a very sensible option up front and Giroud may not have been quick enough to score that first goal and Oliver refereed excellently under huge pressure. SAF would have had him struck off for that!
No you don’t, Cynic. I let him off the first one… 🙂
What N7G said @11.
Can’t disagree with de Gea as MoTM. Saves from Santi and Sanchez were of the first water.
Hopefully the OT dragon is well and truly slain.
I have had several United friends who were there tonight text congratulations. I thought they would have a go at Oliver or talk about the injustice of Di Maria’s sending off. . They just thought that w I thout De Gea they would gave been roasted.
I suspect we will play Reading then Liverpool in the Cup but even if we go out let’s try to do Monaco next week and try to show that awful performance was an aberration
Great summary. Especially like the bit about Arsene. He was struggling to keep the smile off his face in the press conference after – I think he enjoyed that right down to his core.
I have now read your OP, ‘holic and it is mostly excellent, as always.
But.
But I have to disagree about Danny (sorry H2H, and all Danny fans). The Manure defence was as porous as a broken window, and if we’d had just about anyone else up front – OG, Theo, Alexis – we could have put the game out of sight by half time, instead of having to rely on the woeful back pass that gifted Danny his goal in part 2. I mean, really, what else did he do? You write about “Welbeck’s pace and willingness to look for the gaps behind defenders, and looking to thread balls through any gaps that appeared”, but when did that actually happen? He has appalling positional sense and while his enthusiasm cannot be faulted it never seems to amount to much. I think the goal has blinded many to his shortcomings.
But I AM still delighted we won, H2H, really. And there is a definite added piquancy in the winning goal being scored by an former Manc, no doubt about that either!
Öskar
Oskar @ 22: Danny is not a natural striker. Not in the traditional sense. He would like to be one but his composure is not quite there and he doesn’t sniff opportunities like a natural striker does. He doesn’t often get into the right positions as you pointed out.
That said, and his somewhat ordinary performance in the first half notwithstanding, he is not as bad a player as you make him out to be. He is skillful with the ball and has a remarkable tenacity in pressing from the front without the ball. Today I think he was included partly to rotate — we have 10 very important matches coming up in the league where nothing is ever close to be finalized — to give Giroud a rest and partly for tactical reason which is to not allow the ManU defense to play among themselves and get away with that. In the second half Danny pressed relentlessly and if you see the movements of Alexis and Danny there were trying to force defensive mistakes, and he took the chance well as he anticipated the back pass as well as by keeping his cool to dribble past De Gea and not attempt a first time shot. It was a well taken goal. Not a terribly difficult one but given the occasion etc. it was executed calmly.
I think Danny is a very useful player. He is different than both Giroud and Theo, and though he is not as accomplished a goal-scorer as either of them, and doesn’t have Giroud’s ability to be the focal point, in hard-fought matches his work rate and pace with or without the ball gives us a nice balance.
I think we will see Theo at home against WHU, on the right, with Chambers playing RB and unlike Bellerin a little more conservatively.
What did she fackin wear? Come on you gunners. Great team effort today and its probably not right to pick a MOTM but if I had to then I would go with your choice of Monreal. Ive always rated Nacho and have had a few heated arguments with people slagging him off but even I have to admit that he is a very much improved player. I reckon his little stint at centre half has toughened him up and he looks much more physically imposing now. Also agree about the referee`s 2nd half display, he showed a lot of bollocks out there tonight. Alot of refs would have caved into the disgraceful cheating and howls from the Stretford end but he stood up to it and made the right calls. He still should have given us a pen though and he should have booked that ugly bald cunt Rooney for trying to do his job for him all night. As a supporter youve also gotta love Welbeck`s work ethic. The geezer never stops hassling and harrying the two centre halfs and is brilliant at dropping back into the middle of the park and dispossesing the opposition midfield. I dont think he`ll ever be a 25 goal a season man but I`m a bit of an old school fan and I can forgive almost anything when I see that type of effort. He`s easily the best defensive centre forward Ive seen since the days of Ian Rush. Another good thing about tonight`s result is that we wont have to suffer listening to all the little spoilt cunts slagging off Wenger for another couple of weeks. The financial restrictions have been lifted for the past 2 years and low and behold we have won an FA Cup and look highly likely to get to yet another Cup final this year. Coincidence? Anyway, I`m of to my scratcher to try and get some kip. Come on you fackin Redssss.
one of the beauties of living by the sea in NZ is that after such a wonderful win (the game finished here mid morning) I could celebrate with an ocean swim and several pints at the bar on the beach, followed by a few more at home on my sun drenched deck – good times…………
Now for an afternoon snooze in the sun and dreams of another Wembley final……..
IF @ 25: We are still chugging the extra snow from our roads and rooftops in the ocean here in Massachusetts, just so that you know. 🙂
A swim in the ocean indeed …
Odor-able Louis.
Smell is in the air…
In the rising of the sun…
Heh, congrats on the pound, Holic.
The report is nonsense though – we all know Arsene doesn’t do tactics ! 😉
So good to smash that load of elbowing, body checking, diving scum bags.
Well played Michael Oliver. Ballerina aside.
Can’t get this 😆 off my face !
Ballerina ???
Bellerin – spill chucker 🙁
Finally! The jinx is broken, I’m happy for Arsene that the team didn’t let him down by not showing up. Haven’t seen the match yet, will catch the replay later hopefully. Here’s to more wins against whatever opponents that may come up.
Trev — young Hector is indeed quite graceful in his movements.
Those who drop by here to teach Arsene tactical lessons after defeats, how about some congratulations to our great manager for a smart game-plan, excellent in-game changes, motivation and the most important of all, the result?
Would be interesting to see the rotation for WHU match, we may want to keep Alexis and Santi fresh for the Moncao away, bringing probably Theo and Rambo in the starting line-up and Giroud for Danny. Can also start with TR7 in place of Ozil but I doubt all three of Alexis, Ozil and Santi would be rested in the same match.
Finally home now. What a long day. But what a day.
Thanks for the write up ‘Holic. And thanks too to the Club for going the extra mile organising two trains and umpteen coaches back. They get it in the neck a lot of the time (sometimes deserved) but they did a great job for the travelling support today.
Hope all the supporters who drove get home safely, and those who chose to stay in Manchester are continuing to bait the defeated.
Actually, bar those at the ground (my, my aren’t they a tragically spiteful lot when they lose? Where was your famous Northern “bantz” this evening then?) every other Manc I spoke to after the game was utterly delighted, as they actually support a team from Manchester 😉
It’s been a hell of a long time coming, but how fantastic it was to be there when that bunch of cheating. diving, ref abusing wankers finally got found out big time.
And you know, since I don’t imagine ManU organised a train to get THEIR supporters home, I guess we did beat you back to London as well…
🙂
DR F @26 – I feel for you buddy – I lived for 10 years in Westchester, New York — I know what snow looks like,American style!
Dont forget to wrap up warm – Im going for a swim.
snowy, glad for you the club went the extra mile. fuck the mancs bastards, let them suck the bitter lollipop of defeat all the way to the Europa league.
Cheers H!
Good man snowy!
Great result well done everybody! wembley again!!!!!!!
How the belgian mop top wasnt red carded i will never know….
kick push elbow,rinse repeat……
The ref not that good in the first half…AW must have fergied him at Half Time
Nice one ‘holic!
And very well done Arsenal. The better team won. Manure are sliding now and looking at their upcoming fixtures I think that they’ll be lucky to hold on in the race for 4th.
Mid table and no trophies after spending something like 200mil.
Another hoodoo is broken.
Next up: win Chelsea under the Obnoxious One.
I have a feeling this team have the ability to walk around without any apes hanging at their backs.
Morning Holics. Lovely weather isn’t it? What’s that I’m doing, you may ask? Just a spot of basking in the delicious glow of dumping a bunch of cheating mancs out of the cup!
Couldn’t really get to sleep last night, so woke up late today. Not that the rain outside, nor my lateness for things I have to do in any way affects my mood.
Beaming.
Great game. Good job Arsene, finally we get a win at Old Toilet.
Still buzzing!!!
Morning all. How’s the head? 😉
Good thing with a morning such as this ‘Holic, however bad my head feels, it probably stills feel better than Rooney’s.
Excellent reporting as always, Holic!
Still absolutely buzzing with the win. We fully deserved it, De Gea saved them from a humiliation. The save he did from Alexis in added time was fantastic, no idea how he reacted so quickly and got his hand there in time. Without him, ManU would be nowhere near the top four. He must have won them at least ten points single-handedly this season. He is just about the only ManU player to have improved this season and he is the best keeper in the league by a country mile at the moment. Yes, I think he is better than Courtois who started the season well but has dropped a little since while still being a really, really good keeper.
And while we’re on the subject of keepers, Woj had a shaky first half but very solid in the second.
Some will probably claim that Bellerin should have had a second yellow when Young went down in the second half but I disagree. I watched the entire second half again last night and if anyone should have had a yellow there it should have been Young because he took an almighty dive after the slighest bit of contact. He was clearly trying to get Bellerin sent off but thankfully Oliver wasn’t having any of it. Very good decision by Arsene to hook Bellerin immediately afterwards and props to Chambers who had his best game for a good long while, he was skinned one or two times but generally played well.
But the MOTM was on the other side of the back four. My word, Nacho Monreal has come on leaps and bounds this season! I honestly think that is to a large extent down to him having had a quite succesful spell in the middle of the defence. I think that raised his confidence and perhaps also gave him a slightly altered perspective on playing in his usual position. And the goal was very well taken, he had De Gea totally fooled there.
Right, a Wembley semi-final awaits and wether it’s Reading or Bradford it is of course a game we shall win. But that’s more than a month away so for now I shall bask in the glory of this win!
Finally, a word for the travelling Gooners. I am so fucking chuffed for each and everyone of you who got to be there, and the support was loud and clear on telly as well. Some 9000 of you went up there on a bloody Monday night, I honestly don’t think many clubs would have done that. Big props to Arsenal for chartering trains and extra coaches to help with the travel arrangements as well.
Ok, time to try to get some work done 🙂
MY MAN OF THE MATCH… COQUELIN
A great win it was, and I don’t think I felt this kind of delight I now do even when the Arsenal guys manhandled dirty oil money scumbags Citeh early on in their own backyard. This will linger on for only God knows how long. I’ll never regret the day I switched ManU for ARSENAL coz of a certain Arsène being married to one ARSENAL, and a certain HENRY THIERRY whom I idolised in LES BLEUS setup was begotten by the ARSÈNE- ARSENAL union.
I read before the match yesterday that SOMEONE, a BROADCASTER with CNN, SUPPORTER and SHAREHOLDER of our darling club, had threatened to have himself electrocuted if Arsenal fucked up. Anybody in the Bar here with any news on this gentleman who can be damn critical of Arsène and his charges when things are not going on well?
Well, as I said late last night, let Arsenal dare do what Monaco did to them when both meet in the reverse champions league game a week from now and could let my employers query me for absenteeism for the celebrations would be with the appetite of a voracious Don Juan.
” … and could let…” should have read ” … and I could let …”.
Home at 3am. Bed at 4am. Three Gooners returned from behind enemy lines exultant with a famous hard fought victory and only a brief post-final whistle skirmish with a steward offended by covert fist pumping in the front row.
The said steward showed his professional integrity by telling our fist pumpiest traveller, “Continue that and you’ll get a slap!” The riposte of our legally trained compatriot was, “Nice to see you condoning indeed encouraging football violence!”
This seemed to annoy him even more.
In contrast BFG returned the fist pump with eye to contact and a reciprocal clenched fist.
We survived and left the battle field triumphant.
Historic night. Worth the hellish drive home.
COYGs.
😀
We could have got rid of Piers Morgan permanently? Him continuing to spew out his garbage is a high price to pay for Cup Success.
My favourite bit was at 46 mins when Welbeck knocked that floppy haired dutchy – Blind, off the ball and sent him flying onto his back.
Agree with an earlier comment that Welbeck is a fantastic defensive striker!
Alexis-Welbeck works for games like these, they both like to press and inevitably cause nervous defenders to make errors and, or lose the ball.
We finally have some strength in depth, at least on the attacking front. Our bench is not too shabby.. good times beckon.
Now if only we can find someone with Coquelin’s tenacity, we’ll have at least 2 players for every position.
🙂
Top report as usual Holic. An accurate rendition of a fabulous night – one we’ve been waiting a long time for now. And may I say what a classy thing for you to mention the performance of Michael Oliver. He never fell for the diving and rightly punished Di Maria for his antics. Can you actually believe that they spent 60m on that tosser? Along with Mata, Falcao and Van Stapleton they assembled a right bunch of plonkers at an outrageous cost.
And fabulous reports from Bath and Snowy too. Hope Tabs reverts back with his thoughts. Kudos for taking the time and effort to travel.
What a night and what an inspired move it was to play Welbz at CF. That lad bust a gut for the team. I think since both he and Sanchez have arrived at the club, our collective workrate up front has seen us become transformed with lads like Oxlade taking up the mantle and putting in solid performances too. That’s why players like Theo have been sidelined and its no bad thing. Last night was a performance of real substance. I thought in some ways, we did a “Manu job on Manu”. We looked comfortable and in control throughout and we made the most of the breaks. Only for De Gea it would have been a lot worse.
My MOTM was Monreal. That lad has never gets the credit he deserves but this season I think he’s been our best defender at left back and at CH when he needed to cover. Apart from his defending, what really impresses me is the timing of his runs forward. He’s careful and mindful of getting exposed. Furthermore, he seems to contribute far more in terms of the quality of crosses and his general impact on our attacking front when he does get forward.
Lars – I was a little concerned too for Shezza. I thought he was very nervous with some of his distribution. But I thought the two Centre Halves had very good games and protected him somewhat.
Roll on West Ham and Monaco.
Well bath, I thought of you last night and am so glad you were there to enjoy such a performance and result. I hope you are recovered by Saturday. 🙂
Joe
I am totally in agreement with you. Theo would have been a problematical selection last night because it would have left Bellerin exposed and I doubt he would have contributed what Ox/ Ramsey did.
Welbeck is a real asset in games like this. It was a gutsy performance .
If Michael Oliver had refereed all of our games over the years at OT our record would not be nearly so bad. They’ve had umpteen soft penalties and got away with massive intimidation against us. He was extraordinarily good and fair last night. Tojo could have gone but give me a referee of that quality and balls every time.
I suspect Oskar will take issue with your post so just to complete his angst I have to praise Ozil for the quality, industry and intelligence of his performance particularly in the second half
*boilk*
*basks/groans/basks/groans/basks*
Bath, Should have just slapped him one 🙂 Their stewards have always been the same had a run in or two with them over the years 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt6LIs4lme4
:-)))
God, United were boring yesterday, weren’t they?
Toby – that may explain why yesterday felt, and still feels, like a nothing win to me. They were crap, we were adequate.
I’m too old for this, probably, but have we fallen so far that someone like Ozil is praised to the heavens for being able to run a bit? He did nothing else in that game but jog about. We have one of the supposedly most amazing technical players in Europe, but what amounts to a bit of light training in a match is enough from a player like that now?
Whither ‘Wengerball’?
That won’t be a popular view, but it’s something to ponder IMO.
Hahaha @ 51.
No prizes for guessing the compatriot, equally trained in both the law and the noble art of the wind-up riposte.
Well done on making the trip mate, top stuff!
COYG
Luke Shaw, £30 million. Hauled off at half time for being shit.
Ander Herrera, £25 million. Hauled off at half time for reasons unkown.
Juan Mata, £40 million. Didn’t make the pitch.
Falcao, £20 million loan. Didn’t make the pitch.
Di Maria, £60 million. Got himself sent off.
But hey, their manager did sub the keeper in the World Cup so I guess everything is OK then.
Re: Lars @65. Sounds like LVG has plans to convert one or all of the above players to be a goalkeeper. 🙂 🙂 🙂
8ball, considering the amount of weird decisions van Gaal has made it wouldn’t surprise me to see him try any of those players in goal.
With St. Paddy’s day but a week away, just composed a little ditty to be sung to the melody of a familiar Irish-tinged tune you all know well (alternate title of “London Derriere”):
“Oh Danny Boy…
His game is ever grow-ow-ing…
Works end to end…
And even side to side
But he needs goals…
His first touch is still wa-a-nting…
Yet he works hard…
To get back in the side”
“But comes he back…!
To score at the Old Toi-oi-let…!
Before the great……!
Away support!
And when we see…!
Old Rednose turn deep pur-ur-ple….
Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy,
We love you so!”
Just popping my head back in to see if anyone else is still smiling?
Also I don’t want to count my chickens or anything but does anyone else feel this FA cup is shaping up for a revenge job on Liverpool in the final?
Hello everybody,
Coquelin has been named MOTM, that means something to me : The Coq is improving game after game since his return but I heard here that he’s not exactly the man of the situation in DM, some would buy a top DM (which is not nonsense) but regarding his improving games, he really could be the man next season and it’s up to him to proove wenger he don’t need a TOP DM because he have already one.
My explanation : If we buy a DM like schnederlin or someone else, wenger will probably stop the progress of the Coq. Let’s be objective, if we have saw Coquelin in an other team performing like that, we might have thought of him to come play for us next season (he’s young, he’s good, he’s quick, he fights, he’s still improving and he can be the MOTM against big teams). => I say that because people were talking about Kondogbia just after the good match he produced against us, but we may already have this kind of player in our squad.
I’m not saying we don’t need another DM, We are the Arsenal and there is competition in a club like arsenal. But I just think that Coquelin have until the end of the season to proove that arsenal can bring another DM to be in competition against him and not to play instead of him. I mean, if wenger trust in him, he will not put 25M£ on a DM if he won’t play. And If he plays, that can be a brake for coquelin’s improvement.
Flamini or Arteta will probably leave next summer, but keeping one of them will be usefull (we all know we have good chances to have injuries in the same area), we just have to see rosicky playing a decent number of game despite the presence of ramsey, wilshere, cazorla, ozil, flamini, arteta, coq in midfield. So it can be a competition between the future DM and the coq with one of Flamini/arteta as backup.
Onward and upward. Win the next game.
I like @65 Lars account of ManU.
And Mata’s stats concur : http://i.imgur.com/cpiEtmb.png
😀
Manchester United are set to be punished further for their disciplinary problems as they face an FA fine for having six players disciplined in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Monday.
————-
Icing on the cake!
😀
@18, magnanimous as always, ‘Hols. Good on ya!
BMBD
Someone had a peek at Van Balls tactics:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/03/10/267E74ED00000578-2987239-image-a-4_1425979671664.jpg
😀
I kind of like this one:
https://twitter.com/MarioLe0/status/575039844428181504/photo/1
I am so Happy, happiness everywhere. I mean beating them is the best feeling on earth. Now spuds, no chavs no barca none than them. Oh how i hate them.
The difference between the teams was the composure we had on the ball than them and this is where experience and more so the will to win comes in to picture. Cazorla and Le Coq had excellent games and i will be the first to acknowledge the much chastised Per who had an excellent game.
Ozil second half was magical, i mean the man never has a bad pass.
We are the mighty Arsenal and we are going to Wembley. What was a joy was our full backs to, Monreal for me man of the match, totally brilliant.
Porco @ 69 – whether we and/or Liverpool make the final, I always felt beating Liverpool in 2002 en route to winning the FA Cup was our revenge anyway.
Cynic
I appreciate your point but that win felt really good. United have been extremely lucky to beat us in the past at times when they played no better than they did last night. This was a psychological victory as much as a football one. I thought we did a lot that was very positive and in reality it could and should have been 3 or 4 – 1 . Ches had very little to do which I think was a pretty good thing in retrospect!
That was the only cup tie in the quarter final worthy of the name . Especially in the first half it was a cracker but United are nowhere near the side they were . It should give the Wenger Out brigade serious cause for reflection.
I heard today that Ancelotti is thought certain to be sacked at Real after two seasons. After all he only won every trophy his team competed for last season! He will probably be off to Manchester to replace Pellegrini or Van Gaal who increasingly looks a liability . If they don’t make the Champions Leagueit puts massive pressure on him next season. This season the lack of Eutopean fixtures is supposedly an advantage!
Clearly United are finding it immensely hard to replace Fergie and I can assure anyone who doubts it that Wenger will be immensely hard to replace. Much better to have a phased takeover as Luverpool did in the seventies and eighties than the United way.
Frankly United did look poor but that squad cost a fortune. Moyes would have been likely to do a better job than LVG but now they are on a slippery slope because the change after such a long time with one very successful manager is immensely traumatic.
My message is to enjoy the good moments as there are plenty of bad ones . A bad win at OT is equivalent to a good win almost anywhere else!
The day I don’t enjoy a win over those mancy. cheaty, divey, skuz buckets is the day I stop watching football altogether.
=====
Good stuff Joe, top post.
=====
Epic reporting from our “on the spots”.
Top Gooners, one and all.
=====
Still buzzing!!!
Ancelotti in? 🙂
Fair enough Ttg and obviously I can see where you’re coming from and I don’t seek to put a downer on anything. I just don’t think the performance was anything to write home about, either as a team or individually.
For instance.. take out Danny Welbeck’s goal, which was basically given to him on a plate, and I don’t think anybody would be praising him today?
For all the supposed attacking talent we had on the pitch last night, we were playing the worst Man Utd side I can remember, certainly in the last 30 years, who could barely string two passes together, down to ten men … and the man of the match, which I agreed with, was our defensive midfielder.
And the winner was gift wrapped.
It slightly bothers me that my current favourite player is Nacho Monreal when it should be Ozil. Or Alexis (who looks half fit to me).
*grumble grumble* 😉
Bayonne Jean @68. 😀
What 8Ball said.
Cynic, we scored the winner from a poor back pass but our first goal was all down to us exploiting their crap defense. And but for De Gea’s very fine save from Cazorla it would have been 3-1, and the save from Alexis’ shot in stoppage time was arguably even better. We also had a very decent penalty shout in the first half.
See, it wasn’t all bad 😉
This Utd team may be piss poor, but they’re still not losing many games, particularly at home. This was only their second home defeat of the season since the opening day.
Regardless of that, it’s a win over Man Utd. At Old Trafford. In a knockout game. It’ll do me, regardless of performance.
I actually thought we played very well on the night. A bit too open in the first half, but in the second half we were great: the midfield hunted in packs, Coquelin got all up in Fellaini’s enormous misshapen grill and we carved out good chances.
I’ve read a lot this morning about how Welbeck was “gifted” the goal – I think that’s hugely unfair. He did well to be on the spot, but even once he was he was probably the only striker in either squad who would have reached that ball in time, and he did great to nip it round the league’s stand-out keeper and tuck. It wasn’t a complete sitter, by any means. Personally, I wouldn’t say Rooney’s goal was any harder to finish.
Beyond that, and without wanting to turn this into a big discussion about Welbeck because – frankly – who really cares today anyway, I thought he had a poor first half, not working hard enough and with nothing sticking. He looked overrawed, frankly. But he came out after the break, immediately rattled Daley Blind and knocked him to the floor, and then set about pressing Utd’s defence and doing all sorts for the team. His second half performance until he was subbed off was spot on, exactly what we needed.
From what I’m reading on Red Cafe (and oh what fun Red Cafe has been today), Utd fans generally consider the first half yesterday as possibly their best performance of the season. And they’re the fourth best team in the country right now. They went to shit second half once they were down to ten men, but I give the lads huge kudos for winning that game – certainly, there weren’t many of us strutting about the place yesterday proclaiming “these are pish and we’ll smash them”. Well, I wasn’t anyway.
The most encouraging thing was that we were ruthless. We’ve had opportunities to finish hated rivals before and passed them over (including the same mob back in November). This time we made no mistake. It was great to see the relish with which Coquelin (quite rightly MOTM) went after Fellaini, it was great to see Ramsey take a strategic booking late on, and it was great to see the manager hook Bellerin before Young could get him sent off. We were pragmatic, and a pragmatic Arsenal side with this much attacking talent could yet go a long way.
Anyway, we’re back at Wembley and we’ve a great chance to retain the cup. We look in great nick for a top four finish and a push for second isn’t out of the question. Given how we started the season, I’ll gladly take it, and I detect signs of a really good side starting to emerge. If we can just avoid those Monaco-style meltdowns it’s all there for us.
In the mean time, we can spend the next few weeks watching Utd run the gauntlet as they try to keep up. A nice draw with the LWCs at the weekend would be a great start.
COYG
Finally had time and concentration to read the Guvna’s fine report and back drink. Pleased the Holic Pound yielded fruit though I would have LOVED to have given them a real drubbing.
Great drinks in the bar.
Invidious to pick out any but;
Heh @ 34. Epic.
Not a chance Chippy @ 60. Our lead protagonist pulled his horns in (not without encouraging the Steward to “be proud of your work!”) as they were massing their own forces and there were only three of us – we did think there was another Gooner four seats along cuz he seemed to be wearing an Arsenal scarf but when Rooney scored the fella was punching the air and he seemed to be a local wearing a ‘tourist’ half and half scarf. ‘Twas better to beat a diplomatic retreat but we did ensure that we exited below our away support where we could exchange less covert and more appreciated fist pumping.
What a trip down memory lane @61, Chippy.
Heh @ 64. Got it in one and a remarkably succinct pen portrait.
All he denizens of this fine hostelry deserve to share a crate of Bolly.
Slainte.
And top post @85, N7. Agree with every word there. An extra bubble for you. 🙂
Just to pre- empt Ned who is brilliant at bringing these facts before us our semi- final next month sets a record as our 28th semi- final, heading ManU by one. We have won 18 of the previous semis .
Great post N7@85
Very much agree about the importance and merit of the win. Most neutrals thought it was a really good match until Di Maria was sent off when they ‘ went’ a bit . Welbeck took the goal very well his nick around De Gea was deftly done. It was probably a goal that Rooney and Giroud would not have scored. He showed a lot of character to come back as he did after an indifferent first half.
One continuing concern is the injury record of our British stars. Ox is very fragile for such a strongly built boy and has only just come back from injury .His incident looked trivial. 3 weeks out?☺️
Wilshere is back soon after yonks out and Ramsey is just back. These lads really aren’t fit enough to last anything like a season. They regularly break down in innocuous situations.
Agree about the injuries TTG. Bar a couple of signings, that really will be the last piece of the puzzle.
It should improve a bit next season as the likes of Flamini and Diaby will exit the squad (and potentially Theo too if the current state of things is anything to go by) and hopefully be replaced by more robust alternatives.
I noticed some discussion above about whether bringing in Schneiderlin would create issues with the development of Coquelin. Frankly, I’ll take that problem – would that we ever have a situation where players are queuing up for spots, it’s not been a problem in recent memory.
I see Schneiderlin as a replacement for Flamini, and maybe even Arteta depending on his prognosis. Not in terms of his role in the squad, but in terms of squad numbers. We should likewise replace Diaby. We looked a hell of a lot better yesterday once Ramsey came on, simply by dint of having a specialist box to box midfielder sat next to Coquelin (it also helped that the Dutch genius had senselessly hooked his equivalent at half time), and it’s amazing that we’ve coped as well as we have with Cazorla in that role – he’s a superb player and a joy to watch, but still a square peg in a round hole there.
This summer should be all about addressing those square peg/round hole scenarios: we don’t need another superstar as much as we need to look at the areas where we’re a little thing and stock up on players who don’t break easily.
I see no reason why Coquelin and Schneiderlin couldn’t play together in tough away games. Hell, I’d love to see that – it’s about time we had the option to pick our tools according to the opposition at hand, rather than just picking a side from whoever can still walk unaided.
I genuinely believe we’re not far off now. You’ve heard my spiel before, so I’ll not repeat it, but the signs are there – it’s just hard to trust them after so many false dawns these last ten years.
COYG
I like the way this week is progressing. A modest profit on day one at Cheltenham has been added to last night’s haul. Now, what’s on tonight?
Well played Guv’.
CL tonight, time to scope out one of our would be opposition of the next round(s)………
Well. if you can’t be positive, then what’s the point!? 😉
Falcao is actually getting into the team after the defeat they suffered yesterday. Albeit with the u21 squad tonight.
Lots of great posts.
I am with N7 about the need for support and competition for places at the base of the midfield.
If we start with the simple arithmetic that we need at least two top level players in every position — and we are actually ver close to that — then we still are quite short at the base and center of midfield.
Let us assume Diaby, Flamini and Arteta — it would be sad to see him go given how influential, classy and composed a leader he has been, but even before the injuries the indications were he is finding it hard to keep up with the pace — are all leaving. That leaves us with
DM: Coquelin
Box-to-box: Rambo, Jack(?)
Santi & TR7 both can play box-to-box, and Santi particularly has been remarkable in that role in the last few months, but neither are natural for that position especially given the physicality of PL and both would be one year older.
Though Jack has the physical attributes for playing in that role, definitely not something that he would enjoy most. Also with Santi and TR7 both aging there would be more scope of rotation in #10 with Ozil. I think we will get one more stellar season like this out of Santi (after which he would be used the way TR7 is nowadays or may want to move back to Spain) and just one more season out of TR7, even though I would like to see them stay young and play forever.
Chambers can potentially grown into the DM role, but he has rarely played there in his senior career. Bielik too is still a teen-ager and we no longer have to fast track players into the first team and get them injured but allow them to evolve at a more steady pace.
I think we will need at minimum one top level pivote/DM to rotate with Coquelin or play side-by-side, that is providing a more defensive minded box-to-box option to rotate with Rambo. Jack and Santi can fill in this CM role now and then, but we would have three very good players to choose from for the base and center of the midfield.
I think Ox can also be used in CM role now and then, and to better balance the forward line we probably would need one more player who can play effectively on either flank. Poldi is going to leave the club, and I don’t think Campbell would be invited back for next season (he will probably spend one more season at loan trying to move to the next level and if succeeds will join us the season after, he has been decent for Villareal whenever I saw him, but not remarkable), so we have a position for one new player.
What we do with Sanogo & Akpom would be most interesting. Akpom can benefit from a PL loan stint, and if Sanogo can stay fit Arsene has shown enough indication that he will get his chance.
Holic
I shall be at Cheltenham on Thursday. Seeing Faugheen today got my juices flowing! A nice week so far
Heh Cynic! Bet you’re younger than me, whippersnapper!
Dr. F
A good evaluation but we must of course remember that TR7 despite his admirable qualities cannot go on forever. I would certainly give him one more year.
If we look at Wilshere , Rambo, Ox , Walcott and Gibbs, and add together the number of games they will be fit for based on the last three seasons I think we will be lucky to get 100 league games from them so we might need a slightly deeper squad. The wastage through injury in mid- season is repetitive and leaves us very exposed at a key stage of the season. Agree re Bielik and your other suggestions but Sanogo has scarcely played for Palace through injury and needs to be treated with great caution. I think Zelalem and Crowley may come into the reckoning next season
Bounces one off Fellaini’s elbow in the direction of a player who is streaking down the wing so fast it is impossible to identify him.
Or her.
Ox goes on a mazy run, draws four Manc defenders on the edge of the box, gets his head up and threads a perfectly weighted ball for….
Thanks TTG.
Share your frustration with the injuries of our British core. I know Jack is the best promise of the lot, but I personally am looking forward most to Ox’s eventual greatness if he can stay fit. He has everything: technique, physique, pace, attitude, intelligence, discipline and he is not even 22. He can become one of those players who are simply unstoppable with ball at their feet near the opposition penalty box.
DOCTOR FAUSTUS!
He slots past De Gea at the near post and peels away in celebration.
Somewhere in South West London, N7 Gooner is jumping around his living room oscillating between shouting at the top of his lungs and making weird, restrained squeaking noises of glee in the hope he doesn’t wake the kids.
Epic stuff.
Thanks N7 for the pass, that goal is dedicated to one of my favorite players, and at his pomp the best striker I have ever seen in my lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a9aImx2uNk
ttg@88: bit of colour to add on our semi-finals
First semi-final: 1906, lost 2-0 to Newcastle Utd at Stoke’s Victoria Ground
First winning semi-final: 1927, beat Southampton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge but lost the final 1-0 to Cardiff city
First semi-final in which we went on to win the Cup: 1930, beating Hull City 1-0 in a replay at Villa Park after a 2-2 at Eland Road. Huddersfield beaten 2-0 in the final.
First semi-final to go to extra time: 1950, beat Chelsea 1-0 in a replay at White Hart Lane after a 2-2 on the same ground
First semi-final in which we went on to win the Double: 1971, beating Stoke City 2-0 in a replay at Villa Park after a 2-2 at Hillsborough. Liverpool, 2-1, in the Final.
First semi-final to go to three replays (an FA Cup record): 1980, v Liverpool: 0-0 at Hillsborough, two 1-1s at Villa Park and 1-0 at Highfield Road. All three replays went to extra time. Lost the final 1-0 to West Ham after all that
First ever semi-final to be played at the old Wembley: 1991. Lost 3-1 to Spurs
Last ever semi-final replay: 1999: Lost 2-1 to Man Utd at Villa Park after a 0-0. FA Cup switched the following season to penalties to decide games level after 120 mins.
First hat-trick of semi-final wins: 2001-03, Spurs (2-1), Middlesborough (1-0), Sheffield Utd (1-0), all at Old Trafford.
Biggest semi-final win: 3-0 v Chelsea (1952), Orient (1978), Blackburn Rovers (2005)
Biggest semi-final loss: 3-1 v The Wednesday (1907), Spurs (1991)
Most frequent semi-final opponents (3): Spurs (1991,1993, 2001); Chelsea (1950, 1952, 2009), Man Utd (1983, 1999, 2004)
Great stats NBN!
If we win the Cup this time, it would be Wenger’s sixth. Would that make him the manager with highest number of FA Cups?
It will make us the most successful team in the world’s oldest club competition’s history, of that I have no doubts. 🙂
Excellent stats Ned. The monks have been busy. Good work.
A sixth win would tie Wenger with George Ramsay, who managed Aston Villa from 1884 to 1926 (Villa have won only one FA Cup since then).
Wonderful stuff as ever Ned.As a young lad I used to read my dad’s well-thumbed copy of Bernard joy’s Forward Arsenal and wonder if I would ever see my team play at Wembley
What a great and memorable night. My first game at OT since the (early) 80s (we lost 4-0), countryman jr’s first game. I took a half day, he skipped PE and we left Cambs at 2pm. A crawl up the M6, service stations full of Gooners, parked up, chips from Lou Macari’s, into the ground (which is weird – it looks better outside than it does in. Also no big screens and no replays). Up in the gods, almost as big a climb as Newcastle. 9000 gooners making a fantastic noise
De de de da
Danny Welbeck!
Getting stuck in, Ox burning Shaw off for fun GOAL!!!
Who scored, must have been Sanchez, no wait, Nacho???? No Way!!!
Utd straight back – bollocks. But let’s start singing again before the celebration has ended.
Second half. Should we bring Giroud on? Danny scores PANDEMONIUM!! I leave half the skin off my shins on the seats in front (bit meanly spaced compared to Emirates). Red card – hilarity. Januzaj on – hilarity! Januzaj down at far end – OMG must be a pen! No – yellow for diving! Where are we? Five minutes added time – how? Two great De Gea saves.
It’s over! Cue mass love ins in the Gods.
Four hours to get home, Talk Sport all the way listening to Utd fan Andy Goldstein gritting his teeth all the way and saying well played Arsenal. Bed at 2am in Cambridgeshire. Up at 6.30 to drive to Derby for a meeting. Finally home at 6pm. Watched game on TV for the first time (I have a very understanding wife).
Sorry Cynic this was an outstanding night. Maybe there will come a day when we routinely take apart Utd at OT but not so far in my 50 years of supporting the Gunners. For the first time in my life I was there and so was my boy. A memorable night.
Hope the rules for Wembley tickets are the same as last year …..
What did she wear???????????
I love the FA Cup. Always have. Always will.
What a bloody marvellous post @ 108 Countryman100 *applause*
Well played Countryman.
Agreed snowy. Glad you all had a great time last night.
Apart from that troublemaker, bath, obviously. We’ll have to keep a close eye on him and that other hooligan, BtM. 🙂
Ah cheers guys. As I get older I enjoy my (fairly rare) away days even more. Countryman jr was of course attending his first OT game, not his first game (at 15 he’s now a ten year veteran including Wembley last year).
I love this blog and the spirit of the contributors including my contemporary, the Guvnor). I’m acutely aware of my privilege of seeing every home game and the occasional away. If I can give some insight for those great supporters who can’t get to the game I’m honoured to do so.
West Ham Saturday – 3pm KO!!!
C’mon Schalke… one more goal!!!!
Very unlucky for Schalke to not go through albeit scoring 4 at Bernabeu, they gave them hell of a game..also KJH is kinda good at football eh? Before we bought Danny I would not mind if we went for him in the summer, he is quite effective + receives bonus points by default for hating van Quislings guts:P
countryman, as one who hasn’t ever been privileged to see an arsenal game in the flesh, i can say your post is as close as i’m going to get for the foreseeable future, and it’s tasty as hell. thank you, and congratulations. i too hope the ticket requirements for wembley allow you to get another this year…for the arsenal-winning final.
countryman, excellent stuff@108!
Countryman – absolutely superb post. Hats off
COYG
For what it’s worth, Cynic *81), I am with you 100%. I just don’t see the wondrousness so many here believe they saw in this win. There was precious little fast attacking interplay of the kind we used to see when Rambo, Jack and Theo were at their best. Or even when Alexis, Santi and OG were properly on song, which they haven’t been for a while.
AW seems besotted with defence these days, regardless his reputation was built on attack. How a player with a hopeless striking record gets to lead the line is a mystery to me. Theo has, apparently, been consigned to the bench seat vacated by Poldi, never to see action unless we’re two goals down with 10 minutes to play – or some other Mission Impossible. Too effin’ conservative for my liking. With a proper strike force against this rubbish opposition we should have been out of sight by half time.
We did NOT win this game well, we couldn’t string more than two or three passes together most of the game and barely coped with their repeated long balls at the back. And this with Fellaini their major attacking threat?? Give me strength!
Öskar
Eandy — Huntelaar is into his thirties, no? But has always been a good striker even though it never really worked for him in Spain or Italy.
Countryman — excellent reporting. The traveling fans could be heard on the TV, loud and passionate.
Thanks Charlie. So we need to win not only this year but next season as well — part of a long overdue treble, I hope — to make him the most successful. 🙂
If you want a taste of something shabby to remind you of the ‘real’ world, here we go again:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31818499
What assholes!
Countryman100@108: Wonderful post. You took us all there with you. Countryboy will have a night to savour for many a year.
Sadly no time to get involved today – too many dysfunctional bodies to fix but –
A really enjoyable back-drink.
Apologies to anyone I miss out but some great work from the travelling Gooners – snowy, bath, lovely raw report ( and shins!) from countryman,
Great posts from N7, Lars, ttg, and Ned – thanks for some great stats.
A belated drink ….. Very nice report H. A disturbance at OT? Tabs in attendance? Coincidence, surely??! 😉
Applause to Countryman.
Cynic – I disagree (being polite)
Dr F@104: Charlie@106 has answered your question perfectly.
As an aside, only three English managers have won the FA Cup in the past quarter of a century, Terry Venables, Joe Royle and ‘Arry. For the first 125 years of the competition Terry Neill was the only Cup winning manager who was not an Englishman or a Scot. Since Ruud Gullit became the first manager from outside the British Isles to win the trophy, ‘Harry is the only Englishman to have done so.
One point that ttg and Dr Faustus and Oskar raised, in relation to our young British perma-crocks.
No, I don’t agree Dr F that Jack Wilshere has the physical attributes to be a box to box midfielder.
The first requisite is a high level of fitness. The box to box role will place far too heavy a physical demand on Jack’s lower body, which has repeatedly broken down since his first serious ankle injury. Jack also wants to be a dribbler, rather than a pass and mover, and that is a style which invites challenges that he has not been able to stand up to.
I also wrote some time ago that Jack’s physique does not suit the position. Box to box midfielders tend to be tall with a rangy stride that carries them quickly across the ground. Jack has to take many more strides, with his much shorter legs, to cover the same ground which adds to the impact stress on his already fragile joints. The cumulative effect of that over weeks and months will see him ever more injured.
With The Ox injured yet again, Wilshere out with another setback, Walcott unable to make any impression on the team and Ramsey on a constant tightrope to the next thigh or hamstring strain, it is fast becoming time to make a decision on whether we can afford to have so much of the squad constantly unavailable.
And before I get jumped on again for my lack of loyalty to the players (Sarah J), there is nothing I would like more than to see every one of them become a huge success for the club. And I say that as one who watched the development of Brady, Rix, O’Leary and that Irish bloke who deserted to Man Utd. Loyalty, eh ?!
Cynic, i love your sense of humour but have to disagree about last night’s performance / result.
And Oskar,
Seriously mate, if you can’t just revel in winning away at Old Trafford after all this time without rather speculative, superfluous comparisons with what we night have done with Jack, Rambo and Theo in the side, well ……….
We have played plenty of games at OT with those players in the side and not won a single one. Whether they have all been in the side together or not, I can’t remember. That would, of course, require them to all be fit at the same time – and they never are.
I am in Nirvana about the win, Trev, just not buying the wrap accorded by many for the manner of it. Manure were certainly worse than we were and beating them is always a thrill (mostly cos of the rarity) especially at their place. The last time I visited their place it was to watch the 8-2 humiliation in 2011. 🙁
But this Arsenal side is full of holes, imo, and lauding struggling wins, while all well and good, doesn’t plug them to my satisfaction. I want to see better quality on the field than this lot seem capable of delivering before I get OTT about performances.
Öskar
I am also gutted by the growing belief that we will never see that grand band of local bros fulfilling the promise, and would just like AW to play them while they still have something to offer.
Öskar
otd, theo’s the only one of that grand band not playing when fit, and aw was very clear as to why, even if only indirectly, when he talked about everyone needing to defend. he doesn’t, so much, and if sitting him means he’ll learn, then aw has done his job properly.
Strolling and basking.
Strolling and basking.
Özil doesn’t defend, scruz. Neither does Danny, for all that people think he does. One uncontested header out of our area from a free kick is about all he contributed against Manure. Meanwhile losing most of the contested headers OG would have won in attack.
In any case I think it’s an area where AW has it wrong. Scoring more goals than they do wins you matches, not having your strikers running themselves ragged chasing the length of the field every five minutes.
Öskar
I disagree, otd. You say Ozil doesn’t defend, but even on my iPad (as I am bereft at times of a large screen), i see Ozil running and covering from his front left position. Not as much as Sanchez, ok, but he certainly works at it, and I’ve seen it be effective all over his areas of the pitch.
I guess AW must see and appreciate *something* in Ozil’s game you don’t, to be playing him and leaving Theo on the bench. Or perhaps in Theo’s game that he wants to excise by leaving him to watch those who would put in considerably more effort (not to say, necessarily, skill) in all facets of the game.
I wasn’t thinking about Welbeck, mind. But he certainly had a game of two halves yesterday. Funny Theo wasn’t substituted for him, it being such a crucial game, and all. Another hard worker, in OG (also on goal scoring form), came on…I’d imagine Theo is probably getting the message by now.
The message Theo must be getting is that it’s time to move on, scruz. He will probably be more worried about his England position than his Arsenal one. He missed the last WC because of injury, and will want to have the next one on his CV, but if he doesn’t play he will soon get overlooked. Especially as Danny has been his chief rival for an England spot of late.
Özil defending? Don’t make me laugh. I haven’t seen the stats for this last game, but against QPR he made zero defensive tackles and was the most dispossessed player on either side.
I’d still play him though (on the wing), because he can make things happen in attack when he’s in the mood. And I’m still hoping that mood will occur to him more often.
Öskar
LVG’s latest labored effort to justify Jonny Evans’ spitting.
Not too convincing.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31756582
Is it possible for a coach to drown in his player’s spit?
Sorry, Oskar, if that is all Theo is worried about, good riddance.
And I don’t equate tackles with defense. I watch him pressure the ball carrier, move into the passing lanes to force the carrier or recipient into bad choices, track back to support the defensive backs, etc. I am not trying to convince you, either, just expressing my disagreement. You have a different view, I get it…you’re just wrong, that’s all 😉
Someone’s on a wind-up again…
Ah well. If it weren’t for dissent there could be no assent.
BMBD
Lol, Lonestar. Howzit? I hear King James and his Love are taking the Mavs to school tonight…
Trev @ 125: Thanks for that post. What I meant was Jack has the physical abilities of athleticism, energy and tenacity (and a mean tackle) to play the CM role, but you are of course right that his history of fitness and the obvious trend of getting injured if under too much physical stress make such an arrangement inherently unreliable one. I don’t see the ability to dribble as a hindrance, but rather a positive, but you are again right in pointing out that the excessive penchant for dribbling is not suitable for the box-to-box. However I believe with more maturity he will learn to better tune this part and would learn to use his rather sharp long-range passing more effectively.
My main argument was that we need at least one, if not two, more top level players capable of playing the pivote and box-to-box. I was keeping Jack as a possible candidate for CM to demonstrate that even then we will need strengthening. If we rule him out of that position altogether then my original argument is strengthened.
I share with you the apprehension about Jack’s career. Fortunately time is still on his side and one injury free season can propel him to a level his talent demands he belongs in, but until that happens the doubts — about his fitness, and consequently the ability to solidify all aspects of his game — will remain.
Oskar — Consider this: Arsene had brought Theo in when he was a teen-ager and nurtured him through seasons after seasons of injuries, inconsistencies, a tendency of flattering to deceive in between some sparking performances, having simply diabolical games too frequently –check out some old matches with Eboue and Theo on the right, would send shiver down your spine how disturbingly naive that flank looked , Theo’s best games always came with Sagna the superman providing a stellar balance and support — and did I say injuries? Always providing the strongest support in media, encouraging him, molding him into a very clinical finisher that most of the media or experts never thought would be possible.
So what would he have against Theo suddenly? Some suggest that Theo’s antics in leveraging his marketability and Arsenal’s relatively vulnerable position while negotiating the terms of extensions left Arsene with a sour taste. But he has never known to be vindictive. He has always prioritized the human aspects more than performance in its mechanical terms of numbers. And by all means he is not going senile.
He is evidently teaching Theo a lesson. A lesson someone like Ox (overall a more talented and intelligent footballer than Theo, but not as good a goal scorer of course) has picked up very quickly, and Theo probably has failed to. It will be up to him to show that he can learn and not consider his game has reached some phase behind which it cannot be evolved. That sort of big-headedness gets to Arsene the most.
Lot of people screamed and moaned when Poldi was allowed to leave. He has been stinking it up in Serie A where Mancini rarely seems to trust him. He doesn’t get on to the field, doesn’t score when he gets on and probably cannot wait to get back to FC Koln to hero’s welcome. So it is not something personal or idiotic about Arsene, it is Poldi the player who has the problem of not being able to adjust his game any more to the team’s demand.
Arsene is rarely wrong about when to let players go (let us exclude the player sales needed to be self-sustained in the Emirates era). I for one don’t at all think he is contemplating selling Theo, I think he is simply presenting a challenge to Theo the way he has always presented challenges to all his best players and they all lived up to it. But if Theo is psychologically not willing to learn and grow then he will be allowed to leave. I doubt that will happen as I think Theo is intelligent enough.
About England chances: he is fighting not only against Danny, but Ox and Sterling and Sturridge and Lallana in those advanced forward positions and whatever the others’ respective strengths and weaknesses are (none of them are as accomplished a finisher as Theo is) they all put in hell of a shift for their respective clubs. England is too mediocre a team in the international stage to have a luxury player who is not willing to show that type of attitude in his professional career.
You don’t learn much sitting on the bench, Dr F. If AW wants to teach Theo something he should start him, tell him what he expects, and take him off early if he fails to deliver. Do that a few times and I’ll agree with you. Sitting him in the Poldi seat for every match will just turn him into another Poldi.
In any case, as I suggested earlier, this idea some have that Danny is a great defender just doesn’t stack up when you watch him only. Lots of running around, yes, but not a lot of involvement in defence apart from taking up a position in the area for corners and frees. As the bard had it, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage … full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. A good goal on Monday (any winning goal is a good goal) but hardly Messi-anic.
I don’t dislike him totally, he’s a decent winger, just not a spearhead striker. By all means rotate him with Özil, Alexis, Ox and Theo on the wing, but when you rotate OG it has to be Theo or Alexis (or Sanogo).
Just my opinion of course. 😉
Öskar
Great debate about Theo and Wenger’s current hesitation in starting him.
My two cents:
The situation for Theo is clear, Wenger wants more defensive application from him.
I think Theo fancies himself as a goalscorer and a forward. He has always been unequivocal about his desire to play as a forward and emulate Thierry. But he is not at the technical level to be played as a out and out forward, and thus in order to compensate he has to perform defensively. That is the message wenger has been trying to send out to him.
I dont think Theo is negligent of his defensive duties, he does track back BUT he doesnt tackle. I would love Theo to develop much more nastiness in his game and get stuck in. Currently he doesn’t go for the ball enough, instead he looks to stop the supply lines. This one singular aspect i believe is the reason for his reputation as a lackadaisical defender.
I love the qualities that Theo brings to the team: We have more width , his runs are world class and his finishing is top notch. He has already an edge on OX and Welbz in the final third due to these qualities. It is now a question of how much he want it. I think tackling is easier to learn or perform than timing runs and putting the ball in the goal. Just go out and lay a couple of players on their arses, stop being such a nice lad.
I am sure Wenger will have him back in the starting XI in no time. He has always admired his qualities. He compared him to messi remember!!
COYG
Wow.. discussions over who to play.. it’s great to have options for a change!
My take is that Theo did not feature because he’s been out for sometime and to reintroduce him at this particular match would not have been ideal.
Nothing else to it… fully expect the first team to be rotated based on form/fitness in the future!
Up The Arse!
😀
Theo unbalances us, simple as that.
The last time Theo was inexplicably dropped, he was negotiating his contract and hadn’t signed. He was not getting picked. He got back in due to circumstances and was scoring for fun as I recall, somewhat forcing our hand.
He hasn’t started a match since Wenger talked about his contract in a press conference has he?
Coincidence?
I think not.
Theo doesn’t unbalance us at all, if anything not playing him does because we lose a lot going forward. We’re trying to be more defensive and although the results are right, the performances are bloody awful.
IMO.
I have consulted the runes :-
Theo will be allowed to leave in the Summer – meh.
Sir Chesney will also be on his way, like the previous flappy one.
A new DM will arrive but not Schneiderlin – someone better. Hooray.
Wilshere will become the new Diaby – on the payroll but never fit enough to play.
Welbeck will be revealed as Oskar’s love child.
Arsenal will win the league next season as N7 has long predicted.
These things will all come to pass. Nostradamus has spoken.
The next two games will tell us whether Theo has a future here. If he’s not used at all on Saturday and not selected to start against Monaco, a game we have to score three times in to have any chance at all, he’s finished.
Then again, of course, if he scores a couple and we go through he’s undroppable so that would give someone a very uncomfortable decision to make.
Good debate on Feo.
Frankly it’s all down to Feo.
Great predictions Nostradamus.
If it comes down to who do we want to retain between ox and theo which i think may just be the case soon, i would to know the answer from the elite here. My vote-Ox.
Arsenal now need to sustain the level that they rose on monday. Easier said than done because it is that period of the season when fatigue sets in. Classic case- Sanchez. A magnificent season now looking tired but the man refuses to cow down. I see him being rested saturday though or should i say i wish for it to happen.
Monaco may be to big a mountain to climb but a sustained effort in the league and hopefully retaining the FA cup should present a good season for us.
Is it just me and Oskar not at all impressed by Ozil then?
Is it just me who wonders whether Ozil is in the side purely because Wenger quite publicly rejected Fabregas, who looks like winning more in one season at Chelsea than he did in his entire Arsenal career, because we had Ozil?
Nostradamus. Thank you for those predictions. They seem to get more believable as I read lower down in the list. But didn’t you leave out Mesut, Oskar’s other love child? 🙂
Cynic’s love child?
Heh @ Nostradamus!
Frankly, I’m concerned that some people may be looking at Theo through rose-cunted glasses.
I’m on the fence about Mesut. But he’s not my love child. 😉
Sorry to bother you. I’m just knocking on a few doors round the neighbourhood and I wanted to ask…. have you accepted Mesut Ozil into your life as your personal lord and savior?
N7. Good question and I would like to give you a more definitive answer but I am on the fence about it.
Well, if you’re interested, I have these pamphlets which tell you a little bit more about the gospel of Ozil, and the good work we’re doing down on 52nd Street at the Church of the Latter Day Fishgod.
Sermons are usually on Saturday afternoons, tv schedule permitting.
Frankly, I’m concerned that some people may be looking at Theo through rose-cunted glasses.
That will be the Theo who scored three goals in four starts, after a year out with a knee injury, and who has scored against just about every top side in Europe for this club.
As opposed to Ozil, currently winning rave reviews for being a white Mo Farah 🙂
@Cynic
I was joking: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/10/john-inverdale-x-rated-comment-cheltenham-festival
I’ve previously argued in here that Theo should play. I think he’s potentially 20 goals a season from the flank.
That said, so long as we keep winning games, and particularly games at Old Trafford, I don’t care who starts where or who is left feeling tetchy on the bench.
The manager clearly wants more defensive work from Theo. I suspect that’s particularly an issue with young Bellerin behind him and while Santi was deployed in central midfield. I would guess we’ll see more of Theo over the next two or three weeks, and I would also guess that he’ll continue to contribute goals at a steady clip.
Those could just be my rose cunted glasses at work though.
For me, the fact that Theo isn’t playing that much right now is no more than a sign of how far this team has come in terms of squad strength in the last 18 or so months. I like Theo and he has a knack for scoring goals, but I can also see why he gets less time on the pitch now. The Ox doesn’t score as much (yet anyway) but offers other qualities that I believe makes us more likely to score overall, namely that he is better at beating his man and creating dangerous situations that way. He is also, I feel, better defensively and has definitely taken a leaf out of Alexis’ book on chasing and harrying.
There is simply a lot of competition for Theo, who has only ever really worked well on the right of the front three. That means he has the Ox in direct competition there, which is already a difficult task. When he is injured, we can play Welbeck there, who offers more defensively which can be a priority in some games. Also, lately we have been playing a much more fluid formation where Alexis, Özil and Santi have often traded positions during the game, something which doesn’t really suit Theo. And now that Ramsey is back, I think we are likely to see a preferred lineup of Coq-Ramsey behind Özil-Cazorla-Alexis with Giroud up top and which of those three would you say should be on the bench for the benefit of Theo being on the pitch? At this moment there is simply so much competition for attacking spots that Theo, Welbeck and the Ox will have to accept that they will not be automatic starters at this point. That doesn’t mean they’ll never play, just that we simply can not fit them into the starting eleven that often.
“Top-notch” “Theo” “finishing”…
Pick any TWO of these options and you might have the beginnings of a true statement.
BMBD
If we harbour serious ambitions of winning the title, we need a squad full of quality players, who we rotate.
Theo doesn’t need to be first choice on the right wing, but between rotation and injuries there’s nothing to stop him getting 25-30 games a season out there. It might help him stay fit as well, if he’s not asked to play 40+ games a season.
It’s not an either/or proposition with him and Ox. We should also be tailoring who we pick for the opposition we’re facing.
Wow,
And I thought I was the epitome of old grumpy bastard but judging by large servings of the drinks above, I have some serious work to do.
Praise the Fish-God. 😎
It’s not the fact that he’s not being picked that is a worry for me, although that’s bad enough, it’s that he’s not even being used off the bench. Seeing him get ready to come on on Monday and be ignored was a bit of a jolt. Was he asked to get ready or did he assume and get a massive snub?
I reckon it’s a combination of the manager teaching him a lesson after some less than stellar tracking in the couple of starts he made last month, other options being available in his position, the need to cover Bellerin and probably a bit of gamesmanship around his contract renegotiation. Theo had us over a barrel last time, and it’s quite possible that Wenger is letting him know that he’s not forgotten, that this time round the roles are reversed, and that there will be no promises made about a central striking role in future.
I have to say, for someone who is often criticised for being too soft on his players and shielding them too much, Wenger has shown a recent tendency to be extremely cold blooded when it suits him. His treatment of Poldi, bumping Woj from the first team, Theo, etc.
It’s all a far cry from the days when Denilson racked up a hundred starts and Andre Santos got to exchange shirts at half time with hated former players.
It’s not the fact that he’s not being picked that is a worry for me, although that’s bad enough, it’s that he’s not even being used off the bench
Since coming back from his cruciate ligament injury, he has been available for 15 league games. He’s started two of them (Villa and Leicester) and been used off the bench in a further five. That means he’s played some part in 7 out of 15 games.
He was subbed on v Monaco.
He’s started two FA cup games, been subbed on in one and was on the bench for the whole 90 on Monday.
So in total, he’s been available for 20 games and he’s been on the pitch in 11 of those, of which he started four. I would hardly classify that as “not even being used off the bench”. It is true he hasn’t played in any of the last three games but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him start on Saturday with, for example, Alexis coming on off the bench to replace him later on.
Theo was a player we had to buy when we looked to build a stadium. We had to buy them young. And we gave top money for Theo. Over the last 9 years, I can think of no-one who has been given more opportunities to make it at this club than Theo Walcott. He has some 300 first team appearances!
Times have changed recently with the influx of players like Sanchez and Welbz and the re-emergence of Oxlade who has quickly grasped what it now required.
I don’t think Theo has ever been good enough at this level. His decision making is very poor. His first touch and ability to retain possession is poor. His finishing fluctuates between the sublime to the ridiculous. And then he contributes nothing to defence. Even when he does “track back” you can’t help but feel that its a faux contribution for aesthetic appeal rather than ever being a genuine attempt to get stuck in and win the ball back. I’m convinced he’ll be sold. Otherwise he’ll be the most expensive substitute at the club.
Trev,
A note just to say the point you make about the lack of fitness in relation Jack / Theo / Rambo / Gibbs is most pertinent.
Lars @ 166, Never let pesky things like facts get in the way of a good sounding argument, mate.
BMBD
Starting four games out of 20, none of which he has finished, with a handful of sub appearances averaging 19 minutes (with the figure only being reached by two appearances of half an hour – most of the rest being around 12 minutes) is bollocks use of a player.
Started four – won all four.
Games on the bench seven. Lost three of those.
That’s games on the bench where he was actually used.
And we lost FOUR of the games where he was used off the bench. Two of those he came on at 2-0 down
Burnley – given a whole ten minutes. Came on at 2-0 up in a 3-0 win.
Swansea – Left on the bench until we fell behind. Given 11 minutes. Lost.
Southampton – Given half an hour at 2-0 down. Lost.
Hull – Started, won 2-0.
Stoke – Benched. 22 minutes with the game won at 3-0.
Brighton – Started, scored, won 3-2
Villa – Started, scored, won 5-0
Spurs – Benched, given 12 minutes. Lost.
Leicester – Started, scored, won (bit of a pattern developing here)
Middlesbrough – Benched, given 12 minutes. Won
Monaco – Benched. Brought on at 2-0 down. Lost.
@Cynic
I agree with you about Theo, but what’s clear from the fixture list above is that the games Theo has started lately have tended to be against weaker opposition, which skews his goal-scoring and win rate somewhat.
We’ve all be round this a hundred times now. Some of us think he’s a very good player who has previously finished consecutive seasons as our leading assist maker and top scorer.
Others point out that Alex Song once topped our assist table, and that he doesn’t work hard enough.
All that really matters is what the manager thinks. He’s worked with Theo since he was a kid and sees him every day in training. If he doesn’t think he’s worth a starting place right now, then I say fair enough – we’re doing pretty well without him.
I’d be very sad to see Theo leave, as I think he can be a real asset to us, but then I once thought Cristiano Ronaldo would never have an end product, so what do I know?
That still doesn’t mean he’s not being used which is what you said at first. The Burnley game that you mention was his first appearance after being out for over ten months. He then played in the following league game and was injured again, sidelining him for a month. Is it so strange then that he isn’t thrown into the mix straight away when he’s back again? This second comeback also coincided with Özil being back, and like I said before – which one of Özil, Cazorla and Alexis would you bench for the benefit of Theo playing?
Ozil, without any doubt.
And I should also have added that I would never, under any circumstances, be starting Welbeck ahead of a fit Walcott wide. Or Welbeck wide ahead of Ox, for that matter.
We beat United at their place!
Nothing else doing in the world of football for me at the moment.
I’m a happy chappy, so I am.
West Ham prediction: 2-0. Goalscorers? Walcott and Ozil.
@177 GSD
Hear! Hear!
..also hope PSG scalps chelski at their place later!
And am actually looking forward to us against Monaco.. since everyone has written us off.. think we’ll do rather well!
But first the business with fat sam..!
😀
Blah, blah, blah, bitch, moan, bitch.
We bested our most detested (from outside the Capital) rival and yet I’m here reading codswallop about why player x shoud be playing and player y not.
WTF????
Can’t we just put our worn out narratives and short sighted, blinkered opinions aside for two friggin minutes and just enjoy this sweet victory?
But we didn’t play that well, boo hoo, moan, bitch.
WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK?
We beat those sniviling, diving, conniving, cheating cum catchers in their own scabby back yard.
Stop being so bloody negative, pull up a stool, grab a drink and come here and party like it’s 19 friggin’ 99………
……well, more like ’98 in our case. 😉
Hear hear HTH!!!!!
I’m still buzzing!!!
http://arsenalist.com/f/2014-15/manchester-united-vs-arsenal/haha-januzaj-with-a-hilarious-dive-gets-booked-smh.html
No clearer dive than that! Once the ball got away.. down he went!
Theo blog is extremely boring. Nearly as boring as Ozil is a cunt blog.
180 h2h 🙂
too bloody right
.
this is an occasion when the notion that this is a virtual bar
rises to the surface
.
imagine a real bar
.
red and white stranger hugging joy all around
and
someone a nanosecond post whistle
gets their wee pointer in their hand
and
gives a pre-prepared PowerPoint presentation
of their pearls of snipey wisdom
.
short shrift
in my local anyway
.
.
THE ARSENAL
bloody love em !
countryman 108 great
enjoyed that
cheers fella
Cheers ‘H, top report.
Lordy, lordy what a night – have only just managed to scrape myself off the ceiling mate, but “the buzz” is firmly entrenched … and goes on.
Euston 1 00 – Swamped by Goonerdom, a fortuitous and unplanned meet with a couple of the Tollie regulars ensured that the train up would not be a dry one. Cautious optimism best described the mood, a prevailing sense that given a fair wind the dynamics of the evening were fairly clear cut – play well, compete and the better side (us) would win, play as we had at both Tottenham and Palace, become too conservative, give them too much respect, and we would, in all likelihood, find ourselves travelling back and counting the cost.
4 00 Juicer somewhere in Manchester – “Ye Old Manc W(h)ine” I think it was called. Rammed with Gooners. The Tollie crowd and so many familiar faces all present and correct. Beers flowing, singing raucous, and optimism increasing with every sip.
6 45 – A (Not so)fast black one with Snowy to the ground, a quick stop for solids, and a meet up with Baff and Baff junior in the Munich Tunnel. Deep breaths son, you’re firmly behind enemy lines now and loose talk costs lives.
7 45 – Front row, twenty yards to the right of the Manc technical area and 25 yards left of where the massed ranks of the Arsenal supporters begin. Come on Arsenal!
We are on it from the start. Our seats are at the players’ ankle level. Viewed from that height the pace of the game, the physical intensity, and rapidity of both thought and execution are all really something to behold. Thought that we more than held our own in the early skirmishes, with Coquelin to the fore, giving another performance of bristling waspishness, physical bravery and intelligent distribution, a performance that he was able to maintain for the full 90 minutes. His Man of Match award was both well deserved and well earned.
8 10 – A jink, a dip of the shoulder, and quick feet from the impressive Ox, and heh presto, Monreal (of all people) was in. Go on Son, bury it, bury it. BURIED! A roar of exultation strangled before it’s birth as Baff Junior manfully holds me down from rising. Instead, a warm glow, beaming smiles exchanged amongst our little band of brothers, and the realisation that we might be in for a special evening. Game fucking on. Don’t do anything stupid Arsenal.
8 14 – For fuck’s sake Arsenal, not that cunt Rooney. Great cross from the impressive Di Maria (at least until he committed hari kiri), and a bullet header, so i can’t really find it in myself to get too worked up about Kos’s positioning. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the oppo. Not that I did. I did stand but that’s as far as it went. My hands were kept firmly behind my back. Clap that lot? Fuck that. There’s only so many concessions I’ll make to being behind enemy lines.
8 15-8 30 – “Don’t crumble Arsenal, don’t crumble” and for the most part we didn’t. Just get to half time with equality intact. And we did. Went a bit deeper than I would have liked at the time, but we always looked organised. In short, we looked like we had a plan. The back four were calm and resolute (just as well as Sczcz looked a bag of nerves). The midfield 5 all put in a shift – as N7 said above, they hunted in packs and generally came out with the ball – and most importantly they retained a threat going forwards with the always willing Welbeck ever ready to run the channels and take a physical battering.
9 00 – Slow start to the half. VaG’s “look at me, aren’t i clever” double half-time substitution was proving as stupid as it appeared when it was first announced. Chances are scarce, but the intensity and crackle in the air remains. All the noise is coming from Arsenal, even though we are taking a while to reorganise following Ox’s injury.
9 02 – Fuck’s sake Arsenal, too close for comfort as Di Maria is just the wrong side of the post. Hold the ball, fucking hold the ball as another aimless punt goes up the field. Hang on Baff mate that backpass is short … go on Danny go on Danny you’re in Son …. YESSSSS! He’s only gone and done it. The Arsenal end explodes, our players celebrating not 15 yards from us. No heroics needed from Baff junior this time, I’ve learnt my lesson. Don’t go up, go down! And down I went, a silent, but violent, celebration beneath my seat. To the outsider it might have looked like a mild epileptic fit, but i knew what I was doing. Make a celebration look like you’re in the throes of agony. Pretty damn clever I thought. Back in front. This time Arsenal, this time.
9 05 – The air around us is getting all the more sulphorous, a background cacophony of endless Manc whining. A Bellerin foul on the always prostrate Young turns the air blue. Oliver holds firm. Phew. Seen yellows given for less. Manc desperation becomes a constant background soundtrack to the rest of the game. I don’t hear it. I am in my own little Arsenal bubble.
9 15 – Welbeck off. A round of boos is followed by polite applause. Take the opportunity son, anything to release the pressure valve of tension swirling around my head. I stand, arms above my head and clap him off. Danny Love gets the better of me. “WELL DONE DANNY SON, WELL DONE, BLOODY MAGNIFICENT!” I sit. No reaction. I’ve got away with it.
9 16 – Di Maria off and vein-popping manc anger sweeps around the ground. It is the sweetest music. Please don’t fuck it up Arsenal.
9 17-9 36 – Solid, organised and with a terrific collective will to see it out… except that it didn’t always feel like that at the time. At the time, i needed a new pair of pants every time the Mancs crossed the halfway line. Just put it to bed Arsenal and end the torment. But we didn’t. De Gea made one of the finest saves I’ve ever seen live from Santi, another one from Alexis that i wasn’t aware of how good it was at the time, and other breakaway opportunities were squandered as the final pass went astray. For all that, and this might be with a huge dollop of hindsight, I never really felt there would be a sting in the tail. It just felt like it was our night.
9 37 Final whistle. Hold it in Son, hold it in. Plenty of Manc frustration in the air. Don’t give ’em an opportunity to turn it into aggression. We wait. We smile. We shake hands. We gaze at the Arsenal hordes celebrating wildly. We wait. We smile.
9 40 – Most of the Manc hordes have departed. We are watching the Arsenal players celebrate in front of our fans. I can wait no longer. A quick look around to check that there are no lurking nutters liable to do damage and then a huge guttural roar and a prolonged fist pump. It is in my own space and to no-one in particular. It is visceral, redolent of too many disappointing trips up to this place of undisguised entitlement. I am Arsenal and I didn’t care who knew.
Immediately a mightily pissed off steward who’d swapped his legs with those of a Dachshund and had a face like a battered sausage dipped in gravy told me that I’d “get a smack” if i carried on and to go home. Words were exchanged. Told him I wasn’t going anywhere until “MY” players had departed the scene. Right on cue, the Bfg walked past heading for the tunnel. More roaring and fist pumps. Our centre half, outstanding on the night, is initially clearly bemused to be receiving garlands from the home stand. Slowly recognition forms, a half smile and then a returned fist pump. Suck it up Mr Manc steward!
10 15 – Back in the relatively calm waters of Baff’s hotel but still surrounded by Mancs. At the Bar. I am served by a young lady with a strong mancunian accent. Can’t resist. Best beaming smile “Enjoy the game?” I ask. “I did” she said, much to the chagrin of all the Yanited fans waiting to get served. “I’m City, Yanited are twats”. She sure knows how to work a tip!
2 45 – Deserted service station 30 miles outside of Bath. Baff goes in for a freshen up. I stand outside sucking on a cigarette. Tired, but deliriously happy. A group of Yanited fans emerge. Not too late for another beaming smile. “Good game lads, good game … hell of a journey home when you’ve lost …” No reaction other than a couple of glares. They, much like their Club, are a spent force. And don’t it feel great!
Baff, you’re a star. Privilege to be there. I wouldn’t have missed it for the World.
COYG!
🙂
dynamite tabs
dynamite
🙂
Posts like @186 are why I come to this bar.
This is the stuff we should be trading in a week like this. Fucking magnificent, tabs.
Great column from our fifth columnist.
And who knew Baff owned a hotel? 😎
186, tabs, seriously…hair on the back of my neck up and i wanted to shout when danny buried it…well in. wow. between you and countryman, and the other reporters who viewed it live, THANK YOU.
@186 tabs
Read every single word.. twice!
😀
The write-up would have been much better if TaBS had been benched in favor of [insert name of choice].
…
Sorry, I couldn’t help meeself. Good work, Agent TaBS.
BMBD
We’ll said.
That’s what I’m talkin, ’bout.
Well played tabs.
Superb post TaBS. I always hate sitting amongst the enemy – I wear my heart on my sleeve too much! Sounds like you mugged that steward right off!
What H2H said about bitching and moaning.
Twice !
I couldn’t be bothered to get involved, mate, is the truth of it.
There is no Ozil is a cunt blog. I like Ozil. I’d like him more if he was doing the things a £40m footballer should be doing, that’s all.
Esso – Reading a decent book by Simon Garfield called The Wrestling. You might like it.
Now… Les Kellett was a cunt blog would have some legs. 🙂
calm down bb
😉
.
he’s not God 😉
.
.
smokin’ tabs , tabs ?
tut fuckin tut our kid !
.
feckin mancs
ye assimilating?
d’ye wake up wi a whippet in yer wallet
Welbeck through on open Goal
…and HE SCORESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
😀
BAMMMM
OOoooooooooooooooo
Well in BB.
Will celebrate again when PSG knocks out chelski…!
😀
how appropriate, h2h…tabsing it 🙂
Haha, got home whippet free Cba. 🙂 Hope you’re well Sir.
Cheers for the kind ones fellas.
Tabs – epic !
Wish I could have been there – sounds like days of yore !
Heh scruz.
Howdy cba me ol mucker. 😉
Fuckin’ excellent, tabs!
howdy tabs
.
terrific active service report
just brilliant
all praise deserved
.
long may the happy jumpy aroundys continue
.
.
THE MIGHTY ARSENAL
howdy h2h
ain’t it fuckin grand
🙂
i loathe man utd
chuffed beyond belief
.
bastards !
Sure feels good, cba mate, sure feels good 🙂
Trev Lars – Cheers chaps, t’was a great night indeed.
Excellent post, Tabs.
And an equally good one from Countryman earlier too.
Still basking here.
Still buzzing, cba.
Just efffin awesome Tabs and not to forget Countryman!
Watching CHE-PSG one can only wonder are they trying to reach the next round or to figure out who has the dirtiest cunt in their rows?
Absolutely cracking post TaBS 🙂
h2h
one for HairPlugTurtleHead
.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=6O-PIxHnF4I
.
buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
sawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Well at least Chelsea get to sweat for another thirty minutes with any luck.
It will do my head in if Chelsea go through and we go out. A bigger bunch of festering ‘clots’ I have not seen on a pitch since 1970s Leeds.
70s leeds cynic
70s leeds fans
i had enough to be gettin along with then
but
I still have a bastardin hatred for them
.
lotta twonks need planked
Well that is hopefully that. PSG are gits as well, but at least they can play.
tabs- even by your own standard…
Many thanks. That was what I wanted to read.
here is the first port of call for proper gooners
many read every post
many scared to join in
.
anyhoo
.
.
cheers ‘ hol
always glad ye let me back in
.
🙂
oh
and
gsd
.
brilliant posts
.
good man yerself
there goes Chelsea’s treble 🙂
Chelsea hahahaha…
Treble with that shit… What were they thinking…
And Diego costa and Jose mourinho are a match made in heaven…
And a big laugh at the tactically special cunt 🙂
Playing a whole game with one man advantage creating shit nothing
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Hilarious scenes at the Bridge. Thank you Maureen:-)
What a wonderful week of football.
Cheers cba.
Glad the quackery have done their Dr. Frankenstein bit and patched you up.
I bet Mourinho starts saying things now. I bloody hate it when he does that.
Gooners win at Old Trafford
Rent boys mugged off on their own pitch.
It’s been a marvellous week!
Many thanks GSD, I will look forward to seeing you in full regalia again soon! 🙂
Cheers Snowy. Always a pleasure …
Hahahaha … Can this week get any better? Close the door on your way out Maureen and take your stinking football ethos with you. Lovely lovely stuff.
Just had a little backdrink. Top stuff Countryman. Hope the nipper enjoyed his day out. Well worth missing PE for! 🙂
I was waiting for that Tabs with belated enthusiasm. You just have a way with words.
And as if this week couldn’t get any fucking better……………..10 man PSG dump the most classless, disrespectful mob that have been so bad for football on so many levels out of the CL.
Can’t wait to hear Jose’s press conference where the usual contortion of lies, finger pointing and deflected blame will apply no doubt.
Hello Joe, hope your well Sir, just marvellous innit to see Maureen found out, and for once not getting away with it. Can’t stop laughing! 🙂
Chavs lost.
The week that keeps on giving.
Right – bring on the Miracle in Monaco!
All good here Tabs.
Is it any surprise Manu didn’t want Jose for the management slot?
gsd
.
nope
.
patch uppable perhaps
.
don’t jump in
.
.
No
Been a rather good week so far!
#186 was a special one, tabs, and I don’t mean that in a Moaninho way. Spectacular spectating, it was like I was there. If only it had been like that when I WAS there in 2011…
Öskar
What Countryman said at 240.
Remember Inter, go out and attack. Nothing to lose. Nothing to fear.
How rude of me…
…D, D, D, D, Danny Welbeck, D, D, D, D, Danny Welbeck!!
Oh and fcuk the Chavs!
So a team in red shirts emblazened with “Fly Emirates” dumped Chelsea out tonight……..
Get used to it, boys …. get used to it. 😉
Well done Cynic, it was like reading my own mind! Sorry I was sleeping and unable to assist.
I’d love to know what goes through AW’s mind at times, but I doubt the guesswork here is even close to the truth. I believe your rationale about Özil and Fabregas is very close to the mark, and now Theo is suffering similarly apropos Welbeck – who didn’t score enough at Manure and now doesn’t score enough for us. But AW is determined to prove his (AW’s) genius in buying him regardless.
Öskar
I’m over the navel gazing now, Oskar. What matters is the shirt, not who is wearing it. Theo is a big boy, well paid. If he can’t get into the team he can exercise his right to leave.
I’d be gutted if he did, obviously.
To be honest, watching that shower of shit Chelsea tonight made me wake up. They are “the best team in England” apparently. Fuck that. How could anybody ever be proud of that team and that style of play?
Beyond me.
Another dreadful refereeing effort at the Bridge today, but no excuses for a tactically inept Moaninho/Chavs display. Couldn’t beat a ten-man team at home … hahahahahahahahaha.
Now, if we could just rub in the salt by doing Monaco I may have to withdraw a certain negativity which has been creeping in lately. 🙂
Öskar
Cheers Cynic. Time to get positive. 0-3 should be enough next week. 😉
Öskar
PowerPoint oskar ?
What a desperately negative team Chelsea are. A team that is constructed in the image of their manager . They got what they deserved tonight….elimination
Wonderful post at 186 Tabs. I wasn’t there but that helps me feel like I was!
Chelsea
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
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😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
.
Great post TABS! Actually, make that wonderful post!
It might be the significant increase in competitiveness within the PL is taking its toll on its top teams in Europe. Might be.
But whatever be the cause, there is nothing not enjoyable about the scums’ implosion. What a tactical genius!
And how about the midfielder maestro who was apparently going to propel Chelsea to treble and what-not. What is it? 10 games now without any goals or assists? The Barca followers had it right then, he has been continuing his trend of poor second half of the season…
Anyway, fuck them all. Hope this result puts them down a slide and they lost out on the league as well. Man City is no better but at least the thought of Pellegrini and David Silva and YaYa winning the league somehow seems less unpleasant than Moaninho and his thugs …
Just went backdrinking and have to say sensational posts from Tabs & Countryman… I have never ever seen Arsenal play in the flesh and it doesn’t seem like it will be anytime in the near future but such ‘blow by blow’ narration really gave a feel of how amazing that experience must be for all you fantastic gooners….
Also there was some discussion about Ozil vs Fabregas in the drinks. First of all I think the comparison is totally unfair. The memory all of us have of the fantastic Fabregas skew our opinions about him. We need to remember that Arsene completely modified our game to go through him. What bigger complement and responsibility could he have given to a player so young at the time. Wenger has learnt his lesson though and no player will be given such an indispensable role anytime soon. Ozil may not be orchestrating games for us the way Fabregas did but that hasn’t been his mandate in this much mature Arsenal side.
In fact the style of this current Arsenal team is such that it focuses a lot more on the collective and less on individual roles. In fact during Alexis’ superb run of form earlier in the season, Wenger publicly bemoaned his individualistic approach. Last night’s game was proof enough of the waning powers of Fabregas. He was anonymous against a side down to 10 men for a majority of the game. His troubles with late season form are showing up again and so are the hamstring injuries. Overall I don’t think it was a mistake for Wenger to let go of the chance to resign Fabregas. Ozil after his return from injury, with his stronger physique and greater commitment is beginning to show signs of coming into his own as an Arsenal player. Fabregas after his good form at the beginning of the season is showing clear signs of decline. Both are different players in terms of style but in terms of where they are in their respective careers, it is Ozil that excites me way more than Fabregas. And wasn’t it moaninho himself who said that ‘ Ozil is a player that solves the puzzle of any team’… This was after we signed him from Real last season…
There was NO discussion of Özil vs Fabregas in the drinks, desi, just a suggestion that Wenger persists with Özil after rejecting the offer to re-sign Fab because we already had the German.
No surprise that I would much prefer we had the Spaniard of course. Fabregas, imo, is much more of an Arsenal ‘type’ than Özil. Although I have to admit the latter is looking better this year than he has since his very early games for us. Still not looking value for money though.
Öskar
Looking forward to your Hammers preview ‘holic … so we can get off this track I really don’t want to keep hammering. 🙁
Öskar
I’m quite happy to continue looking back on events, thanks.
It’s been such a long time coming – I hope the Mancs are all feeling the effects of what will hopefully be the footballing equivalent of a sucking chest wound……
Good old Arsenal. 😎
..and the Celebrations do not stop!!
What did they say about chelski doing an ‘invincible’ early in the season?
..’Invisible’ more like… Invincible my arse!
Dive addicts and moaners the lot of them!
😀
Jimmy Breaks was a cunt?
No, no, no, no, no noooooooooooooo!
I was talking to someone with an involvement in Hale End and while I suspect he is not in the inner sanctum he feels that there is a reasonable chance that Arsenal will sign Subotic. Apparently Dortmund are respirate not to lose any more stars to Bayern. Subtopics has had a recent major injury and like almost everyone at Dortmund a chequered season but he is a quality defender at best.
For once , and it doesn’t happen often , the speculation about Cech, Schneiderlin and Subotic would represent good sense and has some degree of credence.
Reflecting, enjoyably on the demise of Chelsea it was ironic that all the things they are lauded for; pragmatism, resilience, set piece defending, ability to see out games , just weren’t there when they were exposed to greater quality by a plucky PSG team with some excellent players. Mourinho seemingly couldn’t compose a plan to close out a game where they effectively lad three times against ten men.
Football won’t mourn the defeat of Costa, Terry and even Fabregas who looks less in form now than at the start of the season. As the standard goes up he doesn’t look very special anymore.
I agree with Dr F that a Chelsea collapse even if it lets in Citeh would be schadenfreude we could all appreciate!☺️
and dont forget that we are only 4 points behind the City ttg, a very very long shot, but how fun it would be if we got in the mix for top honors come close end of the season, but banish that thoughts, lets focus on us game by game 😛
Jimmy Breaks is barely mentioned, sadly, apart from Pat Roach joking that he’s unfortunately not dead yet (it’s an old book) at a reunion. The two main cunts are Kellett and Jackie Pallo, everybody else seems ok with everybody else.
Except Kendo of course. Kendo says nothing whatsoever, even though the guy eventually got a three hour interview with him. Three hours of silence makes for a good epilogue 😀
Ttg,
Thing about Mourinho is when he comes up against top teams – he only knows how to play one way: defensively, even if they’ve an extra man.
Last night was a small victory for football. What is truly risible is how many of the top teams persist in cheating, gamesmanship and psychology. Last night the behaviour of Jose & Costa was a disgrace. And this was after they’d been given a penalty and Ibra was sent off for a challenge that was in no way a red card from where I was sitting.
I watched the match on RTE and had to smirk when Johnny Giles mentioned that the reason Mourinho didn’t get the Manu job was because the club had values and wanted a manager who wouldn’t drag the club down to such a base level. Maybe he has a point, but when you think of the diving and cheating that took place on Monday night and the pressure on the referee who thankfully, for once, stood his ground – it doesn’t make much sense. And when you consider what an odious person Fergie was, for all his success, it makes a further mockery of that contention.
Wenger infuriates me from time to time. But as GSD mentioned in an excellent post a few threads back – whether he’s right or wrong at times, he carries himself with a sense of class, composure and intelligence that enables people to be so proud of this club.
Excellent point Joe- Wenger respects the spirit of the game- his own phrase but he has dignity and class. Mourinho is a one trick pony. It’s a very effective trick but at the top level it’s not enough.
Incidentally Frank McLintock told me and will tell anyone he meets that Johnny Giles was the dirtiest ……er he ever played against. Wonderful player but nastier than anyone from the 60s and 70s. Always left his foot in.
Man U is so club searching for a new identity. People will realise when Wenger goes what an immense job he has done for Arsenal
We beat United away. Still smiling. The ridiculous Monday night match was worth it for our travelling army and the war stories that have been brought back have made the bar glow with their telling and the drinks and the good humour that have flowed. All is good.
Just to add the icing onto this delicious cake, Chelsea go and lose a match that all of their ‘strengths’ should enable them to win routinely and which prevents any chance of them getting their venal hands on Big Ears this year. Why not? I like icing.
I find it amazing Costa doesn’t get a red card every game. No control of himself- how does he get away with this stuff?
Scratch that last bit- I don’t care. We won against a team of scumbags who I wanted to beat so much I could feel it physically. When the preview comes I will look to the Irons. Until then…
*continues basking*
Yes – Giles was one of the dirtiest players ever and ended some players careers with leg breaking tackles. But those were different times, less affluent as most of the players were from working class backgrounds and games were played on far different playing surfaces where physicality was a necessity. Wenger cited this difference in a recent interview. In latter years though Giles insight and nous as a pundit has been superb. And there is no “agenda” being followed when you listen to his analysis unlike say SKY or BBC. I think Dunphy wrote recently about the time during the world cup when Souness was invited over as a guest pundit by RTE and was utterly amazed that he was given the freedom to say what he wanted. I don’t want to sound like I’m blowing trumpets for RTE, but seriously, next time your watching a CL game, try listening to the analysis provided by Giles, Dunphy, Brady and Hamman (on occasion) if you can. You might be pleasantly surprised.
I reckon I can pause my planned day of basking to do something rare for me- I would like to compliment Danny Murphy.
Given I have aired my feelings about the woeful Neville it seems only fair to point out that Danny Murphy gave a co-commentary performance against United (you remember? on Monday night? we won!) that was as good as any I can remember. This idea that a person could use the available replays, reflect on an incident and then give a considered opinion EVEN if it differed from their initial reaction is novel in its field. They are all so scared of being wrong that they say so little of value they are never right.
He saw a tackle, his gut said it was a soft foul, which he opined. Then he saw some replays and ended with saying ‘no, I was wrong there. that is a yellow card- well done ref.’
Fair play Danny- thanks, I never knew you had it in you.
It was a good night for Dannys.
Still laughing from last night. I love football.
More chuckles.
West Ham striker Enner Valencia could miss Saturday’s Premier League match against Arsenal after cutting his toe on a broken cup.
Not speaking as a goalkeeping expert or anything but WTF is Courtois doing jumping up and down at the moment Thiago Silva makes contact with the thumping header that knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League? It looks like he is taking a little hop up and down so is suspended in midair at the moment his feet should be planted on the ground to give him leverage to spring in either direction. Not to take anything away from the quality of the header, but if I were Chelsea I would be thinking about buying De Gea.
Courtois hopping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWbJmhbEN9U
8ball: Almost every keeper does that. It is an instinctive move to get more height on the jump you are expecting to make but on this occasion he gets it quite spectacularly wrong as he does that little pre-jump too late and it looks rather daft. As you say, had he not been doing that it is possible that he would have saved it though it is a bit difficult to tell how far away from the ball he actually was.
The week doesnt get any better than this, wait there is saturday still and hopefully the boys win the game against the hammers but what a week so far.
Zlatan sending off yesterday just shows how players influencing the ref is a menace. Terry oh he is shit was so hell bent on the red card that he well may have taken it off the ref and showed it.
Also the ones who are saying cesc whatever over Ozil need to see his second half of the season performances over the last few years. He is fairly anonymous and yesterday was one more example. I am not saying Mesut has set the world on fire but i rather have him who is more consistent than a flash and then crash dna boy.
Ox may return of the weekend is great news and Gabriel also recovering well means we should have a good mix going in to the game and also the monaco one.
Hopping late. Courtois and me both. 🙂
Most hilarious thing about that moment was Terry and Cahill marking each other, Terry even grabs him 😀 comedy gold lol.
@278 Eandy
You mean this one : http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/03/12/268D666B00000578-0-image-a-148_1426118534006.jpg
The face on the moaning one I can get used to : http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/03/12/1426163747585_lc_galleryImage_Chelsea_manager_Jose_Mour.JPG
Keown on Terry : The speed at which the Chelsea players all surround the referee is important – it’s the quickest you’ll ever see John Terry run!
😀
BB. I like the clenching of Mourinho’s hands. Sure sign of desperation. 😉
Exactly BB, thats the one XD
Fabulous article on Walcott by Stillman:
http://arseblog.com/2015/03/can-theo-walcott-dance-to-arsenals-new-tune/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arseblog+%28Arseblog+-+It%27s+fucking%27+excellent+-+an+Arsenal+blog%29
Joe
No need to try to convince me about Tge quality of Irish football coverage.I’m the chairman of a company in Dublin so I get over several times a year and am lucky enough to see a fair bit of the coverage including Mr. Dunphy in the World Cup with his four letter word gaffe! You are quite right.. It’s proper unfettered criticism and analysis which generally puts ours to shame. Roy Keane might be much more interesting on RTE although when I saw it even RTE couldn’t make Tony Cascarino interesting!
Stillman is quite the thoughtful opiner. Thanks for the link, Joe.
BMBD
Speaking of BMBD, This could do something to stave off the early kicking in of the young lad’s Barcelona DNA. Hopefully.
http://news.arseblog.com/2015/03/report-bellerin-signs-new-4-year-deal/?utm_source=feedburner.com%2Farseblognews&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arseblognews+%28Arseblog+News+-+the+Arsenal+news+site%29
Contract runs to June 2019? Is it just me or does that sound like the very distant future?
Cascarino is a plastic Paddy – not the real thing at all Ttg 🙂
Anyway you’ll enjoy this: here is Cascarino trying to argue why Abramovich has been such a positive influence on football and getting his arse served up to him on a plate by the brilliant Matthew Syed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmCtci6cen8
Evening all, apologies not around much this week. Busy little bee. Loving a quick back drink.
There will be a West Ham preview tomorrow. It could be a five pinter. 🙂
Ticket policy for semi final as per last year. Provided I don’t cock it up countryman jr and me will get tickets.
http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1415/tickets/first-team/fa-cup-semi-final-ticket-information
She wore!
She wore!
She wore a yellow ribbon in the merry month of May!
Ballot for season ticket holders who don’t have 3 away credits then 🙁
And yes, I know that is better than being a silver or red member.
They need to introduce a home credit.
Back in the day ‘holic we used to cut out the vouchers in the programmes!
Tell me about it C. Those 78/79/80 seasons I was buying 5 programmes per match, and that was much cheaper than buying three away tickets that you cannot get access to anyway today.
I remember standing on the North Bank 79 and 80. Cup finals were our only joy in that era. Some we won, some we lost. Always lots of wheeling and dealing for tickets. Deals being done in the Bank of Friendship.
Some things never change.
Jimmy Breaks and Jackie Pallo, Cynic? And I thought I was the oldest gooner here!
Do you also remember George Kidd? Greatest Brit wrestler of them all, world champion for 26 years with 49 successful defences of his crown. Legend.
Öskar
Abusive comments to a Tottenham fan?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31861552
I think I just might contribute to a legal defense fund. 😉
Indeed, I’ve missed 2 home games – on crutches included – since 2006, how on earth would I deserve a semi-final ticket ? 🙁
Interesting Stillman article, Joe #282. But a little twisting of the facts to fit the agenda I suspect. For example the Kane goal for which he partly blames Theo. In fact Theo was caught behind his fullback after defending deep, and chose to mark Eriksen, the nearest (and clearly more dangerous) Spud, who would otherwise have been free behind the defence. If Eriksen had received the ball I guess Theo would have been blamed for that too?
Öskar
I don’t remember George Kidd, but he’s mentioned a lot in the book. Mostly by Kent Walton. Pallo is probably the oldest era wrestler I remember but my favourite wrestler was Rollerball Rocco. Rocco, Kung Fu, Clive Myers and Steve Logan, who was so ugly he could give Frankenstein’s monster the shits.
Good old days.
Kidd was no showman, Cynic, so not a huge favourite. He was just seriously better than anyone else in his weight bracket (and probably several brackets above). He’d just go into a crab position and offer a hand or a foot and tempt his opponent to grab it. If they did he somehow unwound from the crab, turned the guy inside and had him in a submission hold in a matter of seconds. Pure genius and still world champ into his 50s ffs.
Öskar
Ask ‘im, ref…
Pallo, McManus and the rest really were from a golden era in the ’60s, far more enjoyable than today’s steroidial clowns who look more like cgi creations than real people.
Then I moved to Aussie and it wasn’t on TV there, so I’ve never watched wrestling since. 🙁
Öskar
Congrats on the 300, Cynic. Nice assist though, aye?
Öskar
Not bad at all, thank you.
There you go, Oskar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz-qYwJUGPo&spfreload=10
Cheers Cynic. Returning the favour, here is the only vid Youtube has of George Kidd, dragged out of retirement to wrestle for Scotland in some international event … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_1BrLgLmwc
Öskar
Joe
Loved that clip. It was a bit of a mismatch intellectually. Sky made a big mistake inviting on someone of Syed’s intelligence to debate with a rambling cretin like Cascarino. I saw Cascarino from his earliest days at Gillingham and he debates as well as he finished
£50 down today at Cheltenham but what a great place to go every year. The Guinness Village is unbelievably good fun.
Thanks Oskar, never seen him before. Not that I recall anyway.
Hey holic, I thought the title of this post could also have been “Trolled Trafford” 😀
I really enjoyed that win! I actually spent the week basking and reading the positively miserable comments by the sad and forlorn manure fans on their forums and twitter. It was brilliant.
Onward and upward.
UTA
Chelsea players, according to Zlatan… http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81613000/jpg/_81613409_chelsea.jpg
Öskar
What a great week. Magical Monday, the pleasure of seeing Maureen fall flat on his face Tuesday night and now I hear the lovely Hector has been offered a new 4 year contract. The Corporal must be wondering where his future lies.
Many thanks to fellow Holics for the great reports from OT wish I had been with you. Now to register for a Semi- Final ticket, good luck everyone.
See you all at the Ems tomorrow, I expect the atmosphere to be stimulated by the Cup result and 3 points keeping us in 3rd position.
It will be interesting to see whether the weeks results have any negative effect on United and Chelski, let’s hope so!
COYRs
wrestling
no great knowledge at all
cept mick mc manus with the hairdo to end all hairdos
smeared around and sponsored by cherry blossom
a visionary
why limit boot polish to yer boots
was he around the same time or after
dunno
anyhoo
howdy ‘ hol
howdy all
cheerio now
🙂
regarding rte analysis
always a pleasure and bonus to have the great Liam on the panel
dunphy however is a shithead dollop of joyless mush
used to live round the corner from me
spoilt yer whole day if ye saw his busted bag of a face early on
apart from that – big big fan
Heh
CBA,
I’d agree with that somewhat. Spent a long time in Dublin myself and often bumped into him pissed, high, “vocal”…….always admired his work ethic though and despite all the contradictions – he is always entertaining.
yup joe
get ye
and hitler was nice to his mother
😉
.
only jokin
.
hitler’s mother couldn’t stand him
.
son
not dunphy
mind you 🙂
baggy faced eamon
would try the patience of a saint
.
but
i take yer point
he’s not bland
needs a regular and good and hearty boot up the hole
but not bland
.
🙂
Heh @ the Dunphy debate.
Barely remember the fella but I do remember an Oirish pundit losing it and ‘going off on one’ with Jack Charlton in a studio discussion. Seemed a bit worked up and intemperate. Suspect that was the same fella.
Meanwhile I’m still just basking like the most uber-hyper-mega-basking, baskiest basking shark ever.
We won at OT by the way. 🙂
COYG
likewise bath, I am still basking like basking basker from baskerville 😛 but my usual nervousness starts to creep in already before tomorrows game :-/
I am approaching this one with some optimism as I did Monday’s triumph.
More of the same application and we shall wipe the floor with wet spam.
baff
i know not of what ye speak
did we play recently ?
i thought I was just over the bastardin moon
no reason
.
THE MIGHTY FUCKIN ARSENAL
.
still chuffed
stickin one on that shower
🙂
Nice goal Nacho.
Delicious goal Danny.
So happy for those guys. 😀
Yes, but will it be the “final solution”?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31879375
Personally, I believe it doesn’t have to be the final solution. An alternating weekly wrestling card of all the underperforming Yannited players could be just the thing. I vote for Falcao v. RVP in week one. 🙂
A solution to get the best out of Falcao?
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/glue.jpg
Cynic. Chavs could be brought in for the warm-up bouts. John Terry and Gary Cahill to reprise their epic tangle against PSG? Nobody got the better of the other the first time. 🙂
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is why you never bet against the Arsenal!!!! A must watch for all go ones!!>>>>> http://youtu.be/YKfhjbLczPg